The clock hits 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7, as the Huntley High School varsity football team takes on Hampshire High School. The crowd was excited for week seven and the announcement of the Homecoming King and Queen. 

Huntley ended up winning 35-0 against the Hampshire Whip-Purs as the game ended in the fourth quarter. Huntley started with a record of 5-1 before the game, and Hamphsire’s was 0-6. 

The football players warmed up for the Homecoming game that everyone was excited for. The game started 20 minutes after the warm-ups, the ball went back and forth between the two teams with no one scoring by the end of the first quarter. 

The second quarter just started in the match where they scored a touchdown, and Huntley started heating up as they later scored three additional touchdowns by the end of the second quarter, while Hampshire made multiple mistakes on the defensive end. 

Huntley later ended the first half 28-0 with a better performance in the second quarter. 

“It was kind of a sluggish start, but once we got our bearings set, we were able to put our energy down in the field. We call it right and left formation. To be up 28-0 at halftime was very depleting for them and put us in a really good situation,” varsity football Coach Michael Naymola said.

At halftime, there were cheer and dance teams and grand performances from the band and color guard that were met with an exciting audience of cheers. 

By the beginning of the third quarter, the Raiders started off strong with a touchdown in the first four minutes and had strong defense as Hampshire’s offense fumbled the ball multiple times. 

During the end of the third and fourth quarters, many Huntley fans started leaving the stadium as the third quarter ended 35-0.

“We had a lot of our key defenders stopping them, with our offense constantly going, going down the field has really helped us a lot, just staying consistent,” junior wide receiver Logan Mikutis said. 

By the start of the fourth quarter, the Red Raiders held their own against Hampshire, as Huntley led 35-0 when the fourth quarter started. During the fourth quarter, neither of the two teams scored.

The game ended with a score of 35-0, and after the game, many of the football players celebrated their win over the game and Homecoming night.

“We didn’t get too high, didn’t get too low, and we kind of just came through” senior offensive lineman Luke Griskey said. The football team is getting ready for next week’s playoffs, as they played their best football and gave it their all for this game.